[Jaysun]

How about improved telemetry/com design, material sciences, propulsion systems, etc.

Those things are wonderful, but I still say that private enterprise is more than capable of giving birth to such things - in a much quicker and cost effective fashion.

[RadioAstronomer]

but I still say that private enterprise is more than capable of giving birth to such things

Where is the return to the stockholders for a Mars mission, space telescope, radio telescope, map of the surface of Venus, gamma ray telescope, etc?

Some things require Gov funding to be accomplished.